Archive for the ‘Container Gardens’ Category

Poinsettia Care

November 23rd, 2008

Poinsettias in the greenhouse

Poinsettias, red in particular, are the most favoured to plant to give and receive at Christmas. How and why this Mexican native became so popular is due to a man named Joel R. Poinsett, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico in 1828. He was the first one to introduce the showy plant which bears his name, to North America.  Because poinsettias burst into full colour during the Holiday Season, and its bright red bracts resemblance to the Star of Bethlehem, it’s soared to fame as the plant to represent Christmas. In the century and a half since its first appearance on our continent, it has not lost it popularity.

 

When plant breeders got a hold of the poinsettia, they introduced white, pink, marbled, mottled, burgundy, and every shade of red imaginable. Not content with just offering us a variety of colours, they began playing with the foliage and we now see curly leafed and variegated leafed plants.  If you are not of big fan of red poinsettias, there is now a multitude of colours for you to choose from.

 

The coloured petals of the poinsettia are not really flowers, but bracts. The flower is actually the tiny yellow centre of the bract.

 

Poinsettias are very easy to care for. If you don’t have a green thumb or much time to fuss over a plant, then the poinsettia is for you!

 

-          As soon as you get the plant home, remove the protective sleeve. This prevents damaging ethylene from building up.

-           If you’ve purchased the poinsettias as gifts, but don’t intend on giving them right away, remove the sleeve until just before you deliver them.

 

- Place the poinsettia in a bright location, away from cold drafts. They deeply resent cold.

 

- Poinsettias do not like wet feet! Keep the soil on the dry side, but do not allow the plant to wilt. That just shortens its life.

 

- When to water? When the pot feels light. If the bracts (leaves) are beginning to wilt, you are not watering soon enough.

 

- Remove the decorative pot cover before you water.

 

- When you water, drench the pot, being careful not to splash the foliage.

 

- Fill the pot to the rim with water and allow the water to drain out the bottom of the pot. I usually water them in the kitchen sink to be sure they

  are well drained.

 

- After ten minutes or so, replace the decorative pot cover and you’re done!

 

- You should not need to fertilize the poinsettia over the holidays.

 

When the season is done, toss the poinsettia on the compost pile. If you are up to experimenting, you can attempt to keep the poinsettia over until late spring or early summer. At that point, cut back any weak growth and set it outside for the summer. Bring it indoors in early September, and you’ll be ready to force the poinsettia to show colour for your next Christmas.

 

And on a final note, Poinsettias are not poisonous! That is a myth. Research, tests and studies have proven that poinsettias are not toxic to human or animal life. The sap can, in sensitive individuals, cause a slight case of dermatitis that lasts for a very brief time.

 

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Posted in Christmas Plants, Container Gardens, Garden Maintenance | Comments (0)

Talinum paniculatum (Jewels of Opar)

August 16th, 2008

Here’s an annual that we grew for the first time this year. Based on its performance, it won’t be the last!

 

Perennial, grown as an annual in colder climates (hardy to 40F)

 

Light: full sun

 

Height:  28” – 34”

 

Width: 16” – 18”

 

Flowering: mid to late summer

 

Flowers: tiny pink singles, star shaped flowers maturing to bright red berries on tall, slender, multi branched stems

 

Leaves: chartreuse, mounding

 

Watering: keep on the dry side

 

Fertilize: once a month using 15-30-15

 

Other: drought tolerant, heat loving, very low maintenance

 

Pests: insect resistant

 

Diseases: disease resistant

 

Uses: containers, borders, naturalized areas, makes a great stand alone (accent) plant

 

All in all, I have to say that Talinum is one of the best container plants I have ever grown! I am very satisfied with it and can see it becoming a staple in our gardens.

 

I will be attempting to dry stems of Talinum seed heads to incorporate into indoor arrangements this winter. I’ll let you know how that works out!   

Posted in Annuals, Container Gardens, Low Maintenance Plants | Comments (0)

Climbing Annuals – Part III

April 4th, 2008

Continuing with the annual climbing plants theme, this week’s victim is Canary Vine (Tropaeolum peregrinum) a member of the Nasturtium family.

Canary Vine is supposed to be fairly easy to grow but in our gardens, we have had varying degrees of success with it. As a result, this year, it will not be included in our plantings. It probably will show up again in a year or two. I will not be defeated!

Tender perennial (zones 9 – 10) grown as an annual

Full sun

Height 6’ – 8’

Fast growing

Flowers are yellow, 3” long with long fringes on the edges

Leaves are lobed, gray-green in colour

Grows easily from seed or cuttings

Susceptible to powdery mildew so provide good air circulation

Susceptible to whitefly, flea beetle and aphids

Fertilize with 15-30-15, or top dress with composted manure

Flowers are edible

Posted in Annuals, Climbing Plants, Container Gardens, HOW TO GARDEN | Comments (0)

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